By Patricia Ortiz

“Agriculture is what keeps the world running,” sophomore Bellinda Bottorff said.  Once every year third graders have an opportunity to learn about agriculture with Ag Day.

“Ag Day is a day that is for third graders (from Plymouth, Bremen, La Paz and Argos) to learn about agriculture.  They learn about farming, soil, hogs, sheep, dairy cows, beef cattle, tractors, along with safety, 4-H and what it is, ducks nutrition, and electricity safety,” Bottorff said.  Every year Ag Day is held in Centennial Park. This year, Ag Day was held on March 31, 2011.

According to Sophomore Trenton Pletcher, FFA [Future Farmers of America] and the 4-H Junior leaders work together to help with Ag Day.

Every participant in Ag Day has a role that he or she has to do during the day.  “My role was to encourage young children to join FFA and to educate them on all the possibilities FFA has to offer.  Also, [I tried] to show the importance of agriculture in America today,” senior Katelynn Penny said.  Pletcher’s role in Ag Day was to lead groups of children around the stations at the park.  “I helped with the sheep shearing demonstration and led a group around to stations,” Bottorff said.

Ag Day teaches a variety of things to the people who attend it.  “Ag Day teaches the role of farmers and their animal.  It shows children how animals are fed, treated and loved.  Ag Day teaches the importance of the animals and what they produce to feed America,” Penny said.

Many students at Plymouth High School who went to Ag Day had a favorite part of Ag Day.  “My favorite part of Ag Day would be seeing all the kids faces when they learn all the interesting facts.  I also love all the animals that arrive.  The owners of these animals and the folks with the equipment, are so funny and they know so much.  Anybody could listen to what they have to say and learn a great deal from it,” Bottorff said.